DE112012003117T5 - Actuator for powered swing door - Google Patents

Abstract

In one aspect, a swing door operator is provided for moving a door relative to a vehicle body about a vertical axis between an open and a closed position. The system comprises a housing that can be connected to either the swing door or the vehicle body, an extendable element that moves relative to the housing and in turn is connected to either the vehicle body or the swing door in turn, a motor in Operationally connected to a gear train with no reverse drive, and a normally engaged clutch. The motor is operatively connected to a clutch input end through the gear train. The output end is operationally connected to the extendable element. The clutch can be disengaged to separate the engine from the extendible element. The clutch has a slip torque that is sufficiently high to prevent movement of the door when the door is subjected to an external torque that is less than a selected torque and the motor is stopped.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 512,124, filed on Jul. 27, 2011, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TERRITORY

This disclosure relates to a system and method for opening and closing a vehicle door that pivots about a vertical axis.

background

Vehicle passenger doors are typically mounted to pivot about a vertical axis. Tailgates are movable panels that typically close a tailgate opening in the vehicle. Tailgate doors are typically mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis, it being known to provide an electromechanical strut which can force open and close the liftgate, or alternatively allows the user to lift the tailgate with less effort than that typically required with conventional liftgate manual gas spring systems is required to open and close manually. It would be desirable to provide a power operated actuator for vehicle passenger doors that pivot about a vertical axis ("swing doors") to provide the same level of functionality.

Tailgates can be very heavy and typically require a kind of counterweight mechanism to balance the weight of the door. However, with swing doors, there are problems of pivoting in that, when the vehicle is on an inclined road, the swing door either opens too far due to the unbalanced weight of the door or, when opened, pivots to the closed state. For this reason, passenger doors typically have a type of locking or detent provided on the door hinge to prevent unimpeded pivoting of the door. Such door hinges typically have detents in two or three positions that hold the door in one or two door positions in the opening path and in a fully open position. The amount of user effort required to enter and exit these detents is a compromise with the retention of the door.

Some vehicles, especially luxury vehicles, have products in the passenger doors for infinite (continuous) doorstops that allow the door to be opened and held in any open position. The advantage of these systems is that they can stop the door in any position so as to prevent them from hitting other vehicles or structures near the user's vehicle. The infinite (continuous) door-locking products available on the market solve the problem of stopping, but they do not solve problems of power-operated opening and closing.

There are many vehicles that have a "power assisted door closing" or "soft close" feature that pulls (tightens) the door once it has reached a nearly closed position. Typically, this feature is combined with a feature of infinite (continuous) doorstep. There are also commercially available power operated sliding doors for minivans and similar vehicles. However, it would be desirable to provide the ability of a fully power operated opening and closing capability for a hinged door. It would also be useful to provide an actuator for a powered swing door with the function of infinite (continuous) doorstep. In addition, it would be useful to provide an actuator for a powered hinged door with optional manual capability to allow the user to manually open and close the hinged door with essentially no more effort than that typically required with some conventional manual doors shut down.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a swing door actuation system is provided to move a door about a vertical axis between open / closed positions relative to a vehicle body. The system includes a housing that may be connected to either the hinged door or the vehicle body, and an extendable member that extends and retracts relative to the housing and that may be connected to either the vehicle body or the hinged door in response to the housing , a motor operatively connected to a gear train without reverse drive, and a clutch having an input and an output end. The motor is in operative connection with the input end via the gear train. The output end is in operative connection with the extendable element. The clutch is normally engaged. The clutch can be disengaged to disconnect the engine from the extendable member. The clutch has a slip torque that is sufficiently high to prevent movement of the door when the door is subject to less than a selected external torque and when the engine is at rest.

The extendable member may include an internally threaded member or a nut tube. A spindle may be stored in the housing to rotate therein. The spindle is in meshing engagement with the female threaded member such that rotational movement of the spindle is translated into rectilinear movement of the extendable member to move the female threaded member between a retracted position corresponding to the closed position of the pivot door and an extended position corresponding to the retracted position opened position of the swing door corresponds to move.

There may be provided a control system that drives the engine between the open and closed positions in response to a power-open or power-down signal. The control system also selectively disengages the clutch in response to an indication that a user wishes to manually move the pivot door, thereby allowing the spindle to be driven in reverse without driving the motor and locking the gear train.

The locked gear train and the normally engaged clutch provide infinite door locking to keep the swing door open in any unlatched position. However, the clutch has a selected slip torque to allow a user to manually move the pivot door if no electrical power can be supplied to disengage the clutch and rotationally decouple the spindle from the gear train.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example only, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

the 1a . 1b and 1c are schematic views of an example of an actuator of a power swing door in operation to move a vehicle pivot door between a closed position, a middle position and an open position,

the 2 a cross-sectional view of the in the 1a . 1b and 1c shown actuator is

the 3a and 3b Exploded views of a portion of a gear train that of the in the 1a . 1b and 1c shown actuator is used, and

the 4 and 4a to 4e together are a system state diagram and a logic flow chart followed by an electronic control system consistent with that described in U.S.P. 1a . 1b and 1c shown actuator forms an interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The 1a . 1b and 1c show an embodiment of an actuator 100 a powered swing door in operation to a vehicle swing door 102 between a closed position, a middle position and an open position to move. The hinged door 102 is at least one hinge 104 that with the (not fully shown) vehicle body 106 is pivotally mounted to move around a vertical axis 108 to turn. For the sake of clarity, the vehicle body 106 is intended to include the "non-movable" structural elements of the vehicle such as the vehicle frame (not shown) and body panels (not shown).

The hinged door 102 includes inner and outer sheet metal plates 110 and 112 with a connection section 114 between the inner and outer sheet metal plates 110 and 112 , The actuator 100 has a housing 116 and an extendable element 118 on. The extendable element 118 is from the case 116 extendable and can be in the case 116 retract. The actuator 100 Can be between the inner and outer sheet metal plates 110 . 112 be mounted, wherein the actuator housing 116 at the swing gate 102 over an arm 120 who is at the connection door section 114 is mounted, fixed. The extendable element 118 is on the vehicle body 106 assembled.

With additional reference to the cross-sectional view of the actuator 100 in 2 defines the housing 116 a cylindrical element in which the extendable element 118 slides. The extendable element 118 has a spherical shell 122 at an outer end thereof for attachment to the vehicle body 106 on. The ball cup 122 is with a cylindrical tube 124 connected near an inner end of the extendable shaft 118 an internal thread 126 having.

The internal thread member may be a cylindrical tube with an internal thread (and may be referred to as a nut tube) connected to a spindle 128 in meshing engagement, which is rotatably mounted in situ in the housing. The spindle 128 can be attached to the female thread element 124 be adaptable to a relative rotation between the spindle 128 and the female thread member 124 to allow. As in the illustrated embodiment, the nut tube 124 in the case 116 is slidably connected, but is prevented from rotating, the nut tube 124 then when the spindle 128 rotates, moving in a straight line translating the extendable element 118 to do so in relation to the case 116 to move. When the extendable element 118 with the vehicle body 106 connected and the housing 116 with the hinged door 102 connected, causes the movement of the retractable housing, that the swing door 102 relative to the vehicle body 106 swings.

The spindle 128 is with a wave 130 rigidly connected, in turn, in the housing 116 over a ball bearing 132 is mounted, which provides a radial and linear support for the spindle. In the embodiment shown is an absolute position sensor 134 on the shaft 130 assembled. The absolute position sensor 134 , which is known in the art, converts spindle rotations into an absolute linear position signal, so that the linear position of the extendable element 118 even when switching on the power is known with certainty. In alternative embodiments, the sensor 134 be given for absolute linear position by a linear encoder (displacement sensor), which is between the nut tube 124 and the housing 116 is mounted and the movement between these components along a longitudinal axis reads.

The wave 130 is with a clutch 136 connected. The coupling 136 is usually engaged and energized to disengage. In other words, the clutch 136 couples the spindle 128 with a gear train 137 without applying electrical power while the clutch 136 the application of electrical power requires to the spindle 128 from the gear train 137 to decouple. The coupling 136 can be engaged and disengaged using any suitable type of coupling mechanism, such as a set of chocks, rollers, a coil spring, a pair of friction plates, or any other suitable mechanism.

With additional reference to the 3a and 3b is the clutch 136 via a flexible rubber coupling 140 with a worm wheel 138 connected. How best in the 3a and 3b it can be seen has the coupling 136 the characteristics of a series of cams 142 on that with blocks 144 the flexible rubber coupling 140 and with ribs 146 of the worm wheel 138 interlocked. The flexible rubber coupling 140 Helps to reduce gear noise by damping vibrations and minimizing the effects of any misalignment between the clutch 136 and the gear train 137 to reduce.

The worm wheel 138 can be a helical gear with wheel teeth 148 be. The worm wheel 138 combs with a snail 150 connected to the output shaft of an electric motor 152 is connected, which may be, for example, a small electric motor. The snail 150 may be a single start screw with a thread with a pitch angle of less than about 4 degrees. The gear train 137 is thus by the snail 150 and the worm wheel 138 and provides a gear ratio that multiplies the torque of the motor as necessary to drive the spindle and move the vehicle pivot door. The motor 152 stands with the gear train 137 in operative connection and stands with an input end 136a the clutch 136 over the gear train 137 in active connection. The output end (at 136b shown) of the coupling 136 stands with the extendable element 118 (In the embodiment shown via the spindle 128 and the nut tube 124 ) in operative connection.

The snail 150 and the worm wheel 138 provide a locking gear train, which may also be referred to as a gear train that can not be driven backwards. When the clutch 136 is normally engaged, a relatively high amount of force is required to the gear train 137 and the engine 152 to drive backwards. Thus, the actuator provides 100 inherently a function of infinite door-locking ready, given the force required to drive the gear train 137 and the engine 152 Driving backwards is much greater than the force acting on an unbalanced door as a result of the vehicle being on a grade. The coupling 136 points however between the entrance end 136a and the exit end 136b an associated slip torque, which is a maximum amount of torque that the clutch 136 between the entrance end 136a and the exit end 136b before the occurrence of a slip transmits. Therefore, if the clutch 136 is engaged, occurs in the clutch 136 a slip on, if at the input end 136a (or to the exit end 136b ) a torque is applied which exceeds the slip torque. The slip torque for the clutch 136 may be chosen to be sufficiently low that, in the event of a loss of power in the vehicle, which would result in no electrical power being available to the clutch 136 disengage, the swing door 102 can still be manually moved by a person by overcoming the clutch slip torque. However, the slip torque may be selected to be sufficiently high to be sufficient around the swing door 102 regardless of what position the door is in 102 is to hold, thereby creating the function of the infinite door locking. In other words, the slip torque is sufficiently high so that when the swing door 102 in a certain position is released and the engine 152 the slip torque stops a movement of the door prevented when the door is subject to an external torque that is smaller than a selected value. An example of an external torque that would not overcome the slip torque would be the weight of the swing door 102 exerted when the vehicle is parked on a surface which is inclined at less than a selected inclination angle. However, the slip torque is sufficiently low to allow the swing door 102 may be manually moved by a person (eg, a person having a selected strength representative of a selected portion of the total population in which the vehicle is to be sold). In normal operation, the actuator 100 be disengaged to a manual movement of the swing gate 102 by applying power (ie, powering) to the clutch 136 to allow, in which case the engine 152 and the gear train 137 from the spindle 128 are decoupled. An example of a suitable slip torque for the clutch 136 can be selected in the range of about 2 Nm to about 4 Nm. The slip torque chosen for a particular application may depend on one or more of a variety of factors. An example factor by which the slip torque can be selected is the weight of the door 102 , Another exemplary factor by which the slip torque can be selected is the geometry of the door 102 , Yet another exemplary factor by which the slip torque may be selected is the amount of slope by which the vehicle is to be parked and yet the door is to be secured 102 can be held in any position.

In an alternative embodiment, the internal thread element 124 and the spindle 128 be switched in their position. That is, the female thread member 124 can through the exit end 136b the clutch 136 be driven and the spindle 128 can with the case 116 be connected in a sliding manner. Thus, the output end 136b the clutch 136 either with the spindle 128 or with the female thread element 124 be connected while the other one of the spindle 128 and the female thread member 124 with the extendable element 118 may be connected and thus relative to the housing 116 can slide. A rotation of the exit end 136a the clutch 136 causes a rotation of either the spindle 128 or the female thread member 124 , with or with the output end 136a is connected, which in turn a sliding movement of each other of the spindle 128 and the female thread member 124 relative to the housing 116 is effected.

There is provided a swing door operator system which includes the actuator 100 and a tax system 154 includes. The tax system 154 can also come with a door latch in 1a at 155 is shown and as part of the swing gate 102 is intended to be in operative connection. The door trap 155 can be a lock 156 and a latch 158 which may be any barrier or pawl known in the art. The barrier 156 is between a closed position (in 1a shown), in which the lock 156 a locking pin 160 holding on to the vehicle body 106 is attached, and an open position in which the locking pin 160 not through the lock 156 is kept moving. If the lock 156 is in the closed position, can from the door latch 155 be told that it is closed. If the lock 156 is in the open position, can from the door latch 155 to be told that she is open. The handle 158 is between a lock-locking position in which the latch 158 the barrier 156 in the closed position, and a lock release position in which the latch 158 a movement of the lock 156 in the open position, movable. It can be any other suitable components as part of the door latch 155 be provided, such as components for locking and unlocking the swing door 102 and motors to a movement of the pawl 158 between the lock-lock and lock-release positions.

The tax system 154 Provides a system logic to the clutch 136 Optionally provide power based on a number of signal inputs. The tax system 154 can be a microprocessor 162 and a memory 164 the latter comprising the programming configured to perform the method steps described below, and which may be configured to receive inputs and send outputs as described later.

The tax system 154 is in 2 Although shown as a single block, one skilled in the art understands that the control system 154 in practice a complex distributed control system with multiple individual control units, which are connected to each other via a network may be.

The hinged door 102 may comprise a conventional (not shown) opening lever, which is located in the passenger compartment, to the door latch 155 to open manually. This opening lever can be a switch associated with the control system 154 is triggered, so that upon actuation of the switch, the control system 154 the coupling 136 drives (ie energized) to the actuator 100 to disengage and to a manual movement of the hinged door 102 to allow.

The control system may operate in a "power assist" mode in which the control system 154 determines that a user is trying to swing the door 102 to move manually when the actuator 100 in a power-operated or power-operated mode. A current sensor 180 ( 2 ) can for the engine 152 be provided to the amount of the motor 152 Determined or determined current drawn. One or more Hall effect sensors (of which at 182 one shown) may be provided and positioned to provide signals to the control system 154 to send out a rotary motion of the motor 152 specify and the speed of the motor 152 z. B. based on counting signals from the Hall effect sensor 182 indicative of a target feature on the engine output shaft. In situations where the detected engine speed is greater than a threshold speed and where the current sensor registers a significant change in the current drawn, the control system may 154 notice that the user is the door 102 manually moved while also the engine 152 the door 102 moved, and that is why the user wishes the swing door 102 to move manually. The tax system 154 then can the engine 152 stop and the clutch 136 provide energy and thus move out. If, conversely, the control system 154 in the power-open or power-down mode, and the Hall-effect sensors indicate that the engine speed is lower than a threshold speed (eg, zero) and a current spike is detected, the control system may 154 find yourself in the path of the door 102 an obstacle, in which case the tax system 154 take any suitable action, such as stopping the engine 152 , Alternatively, the control system 154 detect that the user desires a manual movement of the door 102 to begin, if signals from the absolute position sensor 134 a movement of the extendable element at a time to which the motor 152 not supplied, specify.

The 4 and 4a to 4e Figure 4 shows a system state diagram and control system logic used by the control system 154 is used, more precisely. To aid the clarity of the drawings, elements ranging from 1 to 12 in circles in the 4a to 4e numbered where program schedules are connected to adjacent sections of the state diagram. The tax system 154 is in several modes including a locked mode 200 who in 4e shown, operable. In the locked mode 200 is the swing door 102 in the closed position and is the door latch 155 closed. This can, as is known in the art, be achieved by coupling the barrier 156 with a switch, the control signal 154 notifies when the lock 156 in an open position, a closed position or a partially closed position. In locked mode 200 the control system is waiting 154 in step 201 on a door opening signal. The door opening signal may be force-actuated to open the hinged door from sources such as a remote switch, such as a key fob or dashboard mounted push-button control in the passenger compartment, that the vehicle user desires 102 to start, come. The door opening signal could also be a manual activation of the door latch opening lever 184 ( 1a ) come from a switch 186 which is positioned to send signals to the control system 154 to send. Switching the switch 186 can the tax system 154 indicate that the user desires to manually open the hinged door 102 to start. In the case where the tax system 154 determines that signals indicate that the user has a power-operated door opening 102 wishes, enters the tax system 154 in a mode 202 for power-operated opening ( 4c ), in which the engine 152 is powered to the swing gate 102 to open. If the tax system 154 in the mode 202 is for power-operated opening, it checks in step 204 continuously in the manner discussed above on the detection of an obstacle. If an obstacle is detected, in step 206 the power operated operation of the actuator 100 stopped and / or slightly reversed, the control system is also waiting 154 to a new command. Otherwise, the power-operated opening of the swing door 102 continued until in step 208 the tax system 154 based on signals from the absolute position sensor 134 determines that the swing door 102 is opened in a desired position.

In the case where the tax system 154 determines that signals indicate that the user is manually opening the hinged door 102 wishes, provides the tax system 154 the coupling 136 in step 210 with energy ( 4a ) and enters a mode 212 for manual opening. In the mode 212 for manual opening the control system checks 154 in step 214 to determine if the swing door 102 has been stopped for at least a selected period of time or not. If so, the control system stops 154 in step 216 the supply of energy of the clutch 136 , causing the engine 152 with the extendable element 118 is coupled, whereupon the control system 154 enters an inhibited mode, as in 218 is shown. At this point, the swing door becomes 102 because of the force needed for a reverse drive of the engine 152 is required, inhibited. The tax system 154 waits for further input from the user, either in the form of a power-open command or a power-operated close in step 222 over the remote key fob or otherwise, or by determining in step 224 as a result of changing Hall counts caused by a manual movement of the hinged door 102 caused the vehicle user wants the swing door 102 to move manually. In the case of a power-on command, the control system occurs 154 back to the mode 202 for power-operated opening ( 4c ). In the case of a power-on command, the control system occurs 154 back to the mode 230 for power-operated opening ( 4b ), where the actuator 100 is powered to the swing gate 102 shoot until the tax system 154 for example, based on signals from the absolute position sensor 134 in step 234 determines that the swing door 102 in the closed and locked position. In the case where the tax system 154 determines that the user is manually moving the hinged door 102 wishes, the controller returns to the step 210 for manually moving the hinged door 102 back.

In case of power loss, the control system occurs 154 (which can be provided with sufficient battery safety performance to perform logic and control functions) in one of several power loss modes. If the tax system 154 in manual mode 212 is and the power goes down, the control system enters 154 in a power loss mode 240 in manual mode on ( 4b ). Because in mode 240 Performance is missing, is the clutch 136 indented. If, as a result, the user desires further manual movement of the hinged door 102 This can be done by holding the door 102 is held in its current position (ie inhibited), as in the step 242 is shown. If the user wishes, the movement of the door 102 can continue from their current position, this in the step 244 done by the clutch 136 associated clutch slip torque is overcome.

If the tax system 154 is in inhibited mode and performance is lost, the control system enters 154 in the power loss mode 250 in inhibited mode on ( 4d ). In this mode, the loss of power has the meaning of that clutch 136 is engaged, with the result being the door 102 in step 252 remains inhibited. If the user wishes to move the door, he can swing the door in step 254 Manually move to the open or closed position by pushing the clutch 136 assigned clutch slip torque overcomes.

If the tax system 154 in the mode 202 for power-operated opening or in the mode 230 for power-driven closing and performance is lost, the control system enters 154 in a power loss mode 260 with power-driven movement ( 4c ). The door 102 stops at their current position and gets in step there 262 held by the clutch slip torque (ie inhibited). If the user wishes, the door 102 from the current position to open or close, he can open the door 102 in the steps 264 or 266 manually open or close by overcoming the clutch slip torque.

If the tax system 154 in the locked mode 200 and performance is lost, the tax system occurs 154 in a power loss state 270 with locked mode on ( 4e ), in which the hinged door 102 in step 272 can remain closed or in which the swing door, if the user so desires, in step 254 can be manually opened by overcoming the clutch slip torque.

The swing door actuation system described enables power operated opening and power closing of a vehicle swing gate 102 when the normally engaged clutch 136 the engine 152 and the gear train 137 allows a spindle 128 drive to the swing gate 102 to open and close. The swing door operator system also allows the user to manually open and close the vehicle swivel door by engaging the clutch 136 is powered to the gear train 137 and the engine 152 in manual mode, whereby during manual movement with relatively little manual effort and at low noise only the spindle 128 is driven backwards. The disengagement of the clutch 136 eliminates the force and noise associated with the reverse drive of the gear train 137 and the engine 152 are peculiar. As a result, the manual force to move the hinged door 102 in some embodiments similar to that of a conventional non-powered vehicle door. When the clutch 136 is engaged, a door inhibition function for infinite positions via the engagement of the spindle 128 with the gear train 137 (and especially with the snail 150 that has a pitch angle that is configured to reverse drive through the worm wheel 138 to prevent) created. As a result of the normally engaged clutch 136 the infinite door locking function is available in case of vehicle power loss, causing uncontrolled door pivoting 102 is precluded during such a power loss event. The user can, however, in case of power loss, the swing door 102 still manually moving to the open or closed position by applying a suitably selected slip torque to the clutch 136 overcomes. In addition, the clutch protects 136 the swing door operator system from a shock and abuse load.

The swing door operator system provides a means for speed control and obstacle detection. The speed control is controlled by the control system 154 , which monitors the Hall effect signals and / or the absolute position sensor signal achieved. Each of the signals could be eliminated depending on the desired control features and redundancy requirements. However, the absolute position sensor is highly desirable to provide the position of the door upon power up or in the event of a power loss.

The swing door actuation system also provides acceptable sound levels during both powered and manual operation. This is achieved in the power operated mode by suitable gearwheel equipment, proper spindle support, and flexible coupling of the gear train and spindle. Acceptable sound levels are in manual mode by stopping the engagement between the gear train 137 and the engine 152 achieved for manual operation.

The swing door operator system may be suitable for installation and assembly in a typical vehicle swing door. The connecting arm could move in front of the actuator depending on the installation goals (as in 1 shown) or behind it. The motor 152 may be aligned with the housing in a parallel orientation rather than perpendicular thereto.

It should be noted that the spindle 128 and the nut tube 124 just an example of an active connection between the exit end 136b the clutch 136 and the extendable element 118 represent. Any other suitable coupling may occur between the exit end 136b the clutch 136 and the extendable element 118 be provided to the rotational movement of the output end 136b in an extension and retraction of the extendable element 118 implement. Further, make the spindle 128 and the nut tube 124 only one example of a mechanism to provide a rotational movement (ie, the rotational motion that is the output end 136b the clutch 126 is assigned) in a substantially rectilinear motion, the extension and retraction of the extendable element 118 out of or into the housing 116 drives. The actuator 100 does not have a spindle 128 and no nut tube 124 included to the rotational movement at the exit end 136b the clutch 136 in a rectilinear movement of the extendable element 118 implement. Any other suitable mechanism for accomplishing such a conversion may be used. For example, the output end 136b the clutch 136 connected to a pair of bevel gears to change the axis of rotation by 90 degrees. The second bevel gear can rotate together with a spur gear, which in turn drives a rack connected to the extendable member 118 connected is. As a result, the rotation of the output end becomes 136b the clutch 136 in a rectilinear movement of the rack and the extendable element 118 implemented. Although the spindle 128 and the nut tube 124 as well as the gears and rack described above, a purely rectilinear movement of the extendable member (relative to the housing 116 Instead, it is possible to provide a mechanism which results in a substantially rectilinear motion which may include a movement, for example, along a relatively large diameter arc. Such movement along a large diameter arc may drive a curved extendable member to extend during extension and retraction of the extendable member 118 out of or into the housing 116 moved along a curved path.

In such cases, the housing can 116 even slightly bent. Such a movement of the extendable element 118 would still be in effecting the opening and closing of the door 102 effective.

The above-described embodiments are intended to be merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art may make changes and modifications to these embodiments.

Claims (13)

Swing door operator system for moving a vehicle swivel door ( 102 ) about a substantially vertical axis between an open position and a closed position relative to a vehicle body ( 106 ), with: either with the hinged door ( 102 ) or with the vehicle body ( 106 ) connectable housing ( 116 ), an extendable element ( 118 ), which relative to the housing ( 116 ) is retractable and retractable and in return to the housing ( 116 ) either with the vehicle body ( 106 ) or the swing door ( 102 ) is connectable to an engine ( 152 ) in operative connection with a gear train ( 137 ) without reverse drive, and a clutch ( 136 ) having an input end and an output end, the motor ( 152 ) with the input end via the gear train ( 137 ) is in operative connection and wherein the output end with the extendable element ( 118 ) is in operative connection, wherein the coupling ( 136 ) is normally engaged to the engine ( 152 ) with the extendable element ( 118 ), and wherein the coupling ( 136 ) can be disengaged the operative connection between the engine ( 152 ) and the extendable element ( 118 ), whereby the coupling ( 136 ) has a selected slip torque that is sufficiently high to prevent movement of the door ( 102 ) ( 102 ) to prevent when the door ( 102 ) ( 102 ) is subject to an external torque which is less than a selected value, and if the engine ( 152 ) is stopped. A hinged door operator system according to claim 1, wherein the selected slip torque is sufficiently low to prevent movement of the door (10). 102 ) by a person. A hinged door operating system according to claim 1, further comprising a control system ( 154 ) configured to power the engine ( 152 ) while the clutch ( 136 ) in response to an indication that a user desires power-operated opening or power-operated closing of the hinged door (FIG. 102 ) to start the door ( 102 ), and is configured to, in response to an indication that a user wishes, pivot the door (FIG. 102 ) to manually move the clutch ( 136 ) disengage. A hinged door operating system according to claim 1, further comprising an internally threaded element ( 124 ) and a spindle ( 128 ), which are connected to the female thread element ( 124 ) is adaptable to a relative rotation between the spindle ( 128 ) and the female thread element ( 124 ), wherein the output end of the coupling ( 136 ) either with the spindle ( 128 ) or with the female thread element ( 124 ) and in turn the female thread element ( 124 ) or the spindle ( 128 ) with the extendable element ( 118 ) and relative to the housing ( 116 ), wherein rotation of the output end of the clutch ( 136 ) a rotation of either the spindle ( 128 ) or the female thread element ( 124 ) s, which in turn in turn corresponding to a sliding movement of the female thread element ( 124 ) s or the spindle ( 128 ) relative to the housing ( 116 ) causes. Pivoting door actuating system according to claim 4, in which the internal thread element ( 124 ) in the housing ( 116 ) and with the extendable element ( 118 ) and in which the output end of the coupling ( 136 ) with the spindle ( 128 ), wherein a rotation of the output end of the spindle ( 128 ) a rotation of the spindle ( 128 ), which in turn causes a sliding movement of the female thread element ( 124 ) s drives. The swing gate operator of claim 3, further comprising a position sensor positioned to send signals to the control system (12). 154 ) ( 154 ), which indicates the position of the extendable element ( 118 ) s, whereby the tax system ( 154 ) is configured, in response to the reception of signals from the position sensor, to detect a movement of the extendable member (10). 118 ) s at a time when the engine ( 152 ) is not supplied with power, indicate that the user wishes the swing door ( 102 ) to move manually. A swing door operator system according to claim 6, further comprising a Hall effect sensor ( 182 ) positioned to send signals to the control system ( 154 ), which determines the speed of the engine ( 152 ) specify. The swing gate operator of claim 3, further comprising a current sensor configured to send signals to the control system (12). 154 ), which is the amount of the engine ( 152 ) indicated electrical current. A hinged door operating system according to claim 3, further comprising a switch ( 186 ) for manual movement positioned to send signals to the control system ( 154 ) indicating whether a user wishes the swing door ( 102 ), the operation of a door opening lever activating the switch ( 186 ) switches. A swing door operator system according to claim 3, wherein the manual movement signal is in response to the determination that the engine ( 152 ) is forcefully moved at a speed greater than a threshold design speed, to the control system ( 154 ) provided. A swing door actuation system according to claim 1, further comprising an elastomeric coupling disposed between the coupling (12). 136 ) and the gear train ( 137 ) is arranged so that the gear train ( 137 ) with the input end of the coupling ( 136 ) is in operative connection via the elastomer coupling. Swing door operator system according to claim 1, wherein the gear train ( 137 ) a snail ( 150 ) between the engine ( 152 ) and a worm wheel is coupled, wherein the worm ( 150 ) has a thread which has a pitch angle which is smaller than a selected pitch angle, which is selected so that a backward drive of the screw ( 150 ) is prevented. The swing gate operator of claim 12, wherein the thread is a single start thread and wherein the selected pitch angle is less than about 4 degrees.

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